Update:
- A group of HP printer owners say HP did not successfully show their antitrust case alleging a printer cartridge monopoly should be dismissed.
- The plaintiffs told U.S. District Judge Martha M. Pacold the HP printer purchasers never entered into a contract to only purchase HP ink cartridges.
- HP waited until it held a substantial portion of the market and then incrementally eliminated other ink options through firmware updates, the lawsuit claims.
HP replacement ink cartridge class action lawsuit overview:
- Who: A group of consumers filed a class action lawsuit against HP Inc.
- Why: The consumers claim HP monopolized the market for replacement ink cartridges.
- Where: The class action lawsuit was filed in Illinois federal court.
(Jan 11, 2024)
HP Inc. requires consumers with certain HP-branded printers to use HP-branded replacement ink cartridges, rather than being able to purchase ink replacements from its competitors, effectively creating a monopoly, a new class action lawsuit alleges.
A group of consumers claim HP has monopolized the market for replacement ink cartridges by allegedly using firmware that effectively disables a printer in the event a user installs a non-HP replacement ink cartridge.
The consumers argue HP accomplished this alleged monopoly by distributing firmware updates electronically to all registered owners of certain HP printers in late 2022 and early 2023, while simultaneously raising prices for its replacement ink cartridges.
“In effect, HP used the software update to create a monopoly in the aftermarket for replacement cartridges, permitting it to raise prices without fear of being undercut by competitors,” the HP class action states.
Certain models of HP’s OfficeJetPro, XP, PageWide, OfficeJet, LaserJet, DeskJet, OfficeJet Pro and Envy printers are included in the class action lawsuit.
HP customers not given a chance to opt out of firmware updates, class action says
The consumers want to represent a nationwide class of consumers who bought an HP branded replacement ink cartridge for the HP printers since September 2022 and a class of those who bought a non-HP replacement ink cartridge since September 2022 that they were unable to use due to HP’s firmware updates.
HP does not give its customers a chance to opt out of specific software or firmware updates if a printer is connected to the internet, and consumers typically are not made aware when updates occur, the HP class action alleges.
The consumers claim HP is guilty of unjust enrichment and of violating the Sherman Act, the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act and consumer protection and antitrust statutes in all 50 U.S. states and Washington, D.C.
The plaintiffs are demanding a jury trial and requesting declaratory and injunctive relief along with an award of compensatory, statutory and punitive damages for themselves and all class members.
A jury ruled in October that HP was not liable for an apartment fire in Seattle that caused $5 million in damages and a man dead. A Philadelphia-based insurance company had claimed an HP-branded lithium-ion laptop battery caused the blaze.
Have you purchased a non-HP branded replacement ink cartridge that you were unable to use with your HP printer? Let us know in the comments.
The plaintiffs are represented by S. Jarret Raab, Peggy J. Wedgworth, Arthur Stock and Jimmy W. Mintz of Milberg Coleman Bryson Phillips Grossman PLLC.
The HP replacement ink cartridge class action lawsuit is Robinson, et al. v. HP, Inc., Case No. 1:24-cv-00164, in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois.
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1,636 thoughts onHP printer class fights to keep ink cartridge monopolization claims alive
Please add me.
Please add me
just purchased the 902xl for my hp6968 from the ejetstore on amazon in february 2024 and it wont communicate
Yes, please add me to the hp claim
Yes I have. I was forced to use and pay monthly for instant in, the subscription service for ink offered through HP’s printers. I am unable to print right now because I haven’t paid my monthly subscription.
Please add me
I ordered replacements but they would not fit. Didn’t realize HP was so monopolizing! Please add me.
HP writes me to states the following,
“If you don’t replace non-Original HP cartridges in your printer, you will lose your HP+ benefits for this printer and will not be able to get them back. As a reminder, you receive these HP+ benefits:”
The benefits are nice but not at the price of freedom of choice. This is the last HP product I will ever buy. Instead of their fancy scan options, I’ll use email & iPhone options.
not only do i have the same issue…that a non HP ink will disable my new printer, i bought a new printer this year and had to go through all of the software updates to get it to work. once all of those software update were done, those updates also disabled an old printer that i had had for at least 5 years in which i was using non HP ink. I dont know how that happened as my old printer was not plugged in at the time. But i had to throw that old printer out along with 100 dollars worth of non HP ink that i had just purchased.
Even when you purchase HP carts and have another printer that uses the same carts it will not let you print with them. Also if you have HP instant ink and do not pay the monthly fee, they lock your printer down and it becomes unusable.
Yes, from more than one company